The
presence of sari-sari stores, carinderias, coffee shops, and
laundromats in a neighborhood is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of
Filipino communities, reflecting their determination to create opportunities,
earn a living, and support their families through small businesses.
MSMEs
make up 99.6 percent of all registered businesses in the Philippines and employ
about 63 percent of the local workforce, underscoring their vital role in the
economy. Yet many continue to face growth barriers, particularly access to
finance, as documentary requirements for traditional loans often put credit out
of reach. This limits their ability to invest in inventory, hire employees, and
expand their businesses.
Recognizing
that access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to MSME growth,
GCash and its lending arm, Fuse Financing Inc., are helping bridge the
financing gap through a digital loan product, GLoan Negosyo, that provide
entrepreneurs with the working capital they need to sustain and grow their
businesses. By making formal credit more accessible, convenient and fair, they
are helping more entrepreneurs participate in and benefit from the formal
financial system.
Ivy (left) and Jinky (right) use GLoans
to start their journey as an entrepreneur.
Driving
force behind MSMEs
Ivy,
a frozen food vendor in Quezon City, was able to establish her business through
GLoan Negosyo, which provided her the initial capital she needed. The proceeds
of the loan were allocated to her inventory purchases and other business
operation expenses. "Doon ako nag-start na maghanap-buhay sa GLoan,"
she said. (GLoan was where I started building my livelihood.)
Using GLoan Negosyo has allowed Ivy to stay away
from informal lenders, recalling that the entrepreneur once tried borrowing
from 5-6, but she ended up with an even bigger financial burden due to
exorbitant rates. This was not the case with GCash, she said, noting that the
app has clear repayment terms.
She
has been operating her business for over two years now, enabling her to sustain
the needs of her family.
Meanwhile,
Jinky, a small store owner in Quezon City, uses GLoan to support her cash-in
and cash-out business.
Annabel (left) and Melissa (right) tap
the GLoan facility to fund the daily operations of their business.
During periods when she ran short of cash float for transactions, GLoan Negosyo
provided the immediate working capital she needed to continue serving customers
without interruption. The entrepreneur has also used the loan proceeds as
additional capital to strengthen and grow her store.
Beyond
supporting her business, Fuse Financing's loan products have served as an
important financial safety net for Jinky as the primary caregiver for her
husband, who is recovering from a stroke, and her children, who regularly
undergo therapy sessions.
"Sa
kagipitan ko, [lumapit ako] sa GLoan. Napandagdag ko din sa puhunan ko,"
she said. (During a difficult time, I turned to GLoan. It also helped me add to
my business capital.)
Enabling
new beginnings
For
Annabel, GLoan Negosyo has supported her when she returned to the Philippines.
A
former overseas Filipino worker, she now runs her own RTW (ready-to-wear) and
ukay-ukay business in Quezon City. When she was working as a domestic helper in
Kuwait, Annabel was already familiar with the platform, using it when sending
money back home.
Now,
through Fuse Financing, she is accessing additional capital whenever her funds
for inventory fall short. Apart from replenishing stocks, Annabel said the
financing enabled her to explore and buy new products that are in line with
customer demand. Doing so allows her to earn more for her business.
"May
mga items ako na hinahanap ng customer na wala ako. Dahil sa GLoan Negosyo,
nagkakaroon ako ng panibagong idea, o kaya nadadagdagan pa yung paninda
ko," she said. (There are items that my customers look for that I don't
have in stock. Because of GLoan, I've been able to expand my inventory and
introduce new products to meet their needs.)
As a
single mother, Annabel is grateful for the opportunity that GCash has provided
her to strengthen her livelihood, support her family, and achieve greater
financial independence.
Future
safety net
Melissa,
a sari-sari store owner in Quezon City, started using GLoan Negosyo this year
for utility bills, water payments, tuition fees, and other urgent household
expenses.
Although
she has not yet used GLoan for her sari-sari store, she plans to use future
loans as additional business capital to expand her store and increase income.
Knowing
that Fuse is behind her every step, Melissa is confident that she has a
financial partner she can turn to whenever opportunities arise or unexpected
expenses come her way.
"Kung
mangangailangan ulit ako para magdagdag po naman, magagamit po ulit ang
GLoan," she said. (If I need additional funds again in the future, I can
turn to GLoan once more.)
Fuse
Financing provides digital loan products designed to help MSMEs access working
capital, manage cash flow, purchase inventory, and grow their businesses. By
making financing more accessible and convenient, these solutions help
entrepreneurs overcome traditional barriers to credit and support them through
every stage of their business journey.
The
lending arm has disbursed over ₱406 billion in loans to date and has reached more than 11.1 million unique
borrowers, 85% of whom are accessing formal credit for the first time.
As
more MSMEs gain access to responsible and accessible financing, more small
businesses can break through traditional barriers to grow and unlock their full
potential. To learn more about Fuse loan products, visit gcash.com.